Demand prompts additional cars for inaugural train from Norfolk

Amtrak is adding more seats to a train leaving Norfolk on Dec. 13, restoring passenger service to South Hampton Roads after a 35 year hiatus.

The rail line will run from Norfolk through Richmond to Washington, D.C.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation asked Amtrak to add four cars to the inaugural run because of high demand. The extra passenger cars will provide an additional 280 seats.

“The remarkable demand to ride this new service proves Hampton Roads is ready to park congestion and ride the train through Virginia and into the Northeast,” Thelma Drake, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said in a statement.

The Norfolk station is at Harbor Park in the city’s downtown. South Hampton Roads hasn’t had passenger rail service since 1977.

Northbound Amtrak service from Norfolk will leave at 4:50 a.m. on weekdays, arriving in Washington at 9:44. On weekends, the train leaves at 6:05 a.m., reaching Washington at 10:55.

Southbound service will leave Washington at 3:55 p.m. on weekdays, arriving in Norfolk at 8:50. The Saturday train leaves at 7 p.m., arriving in Norfolk at 11:48, while the Sunday train leaves the capital at 4 p.m., getting into Norfolk at 8:48 p.m.